DGR Fave & Review: Black Swan Affair by @klkreig

October 12, 2016 by · 1 Comment

black-swan-affair-dgr-reviewBLACK SWAN AFFAIR
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Author: KL Kreig
Release Date: October 17, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

black-swan-affair-ebook-cover

I’ve loved him as long as I can remember.

The gangly boy with big brown eyes and unruly hair who grew up into an intoxicating man. He wears scruff like he invented it and ambles with a swagger that makes panties drop.

Killian Shepard.

Shep.

We grew up together. We played Ghost in the Graveyard. Had our own rock band. It didn’t matter that he was five years older than me. It didn’t matter that he looked at me as a kid sister even as I grew into a woman. It didn’t even matter when he left me behind to go to college and start his adult life.

He’d be back.

He was always meant to be mine.

He came back, all right. But instead of smelling of promises, he stunk of betrayal. And he destroyed me—us—the day he married my sister instead of me.

So I did the only thing a girl like me in my position could do.

I got my revenge.

I married his brother, Kael.

Now we’re one big happy fucking family.

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR5 starsblack-swan-affair-dgr-teaser

Pining after someone’s husband is one thing. Pining after someone’s husband when you’re now married- to his brother- is taking immorality to an entirely new level. But that’s me.”

It’s official. I’m ruined. Utterly and totally ruined by this incredible book, by these beautiful words, by the heart wrenching story, by the devastating angst…this…EVERYTHING.

How can I even begin to describe to you all what I read? Let me try…
Yep. That about sums it up.

Truth be told, I do NOT do love triangles. As a matter of fact I tend to avoid them like a case of the clap…by practicing love triangle abstinence. What? It’s totally a thing. But then my trusty book pimp Nashoda Rose told me this book had my name written all over it, and I was convinced (read= threatened bodily harm if I get a flashback to Thoughtless). But that’s neither here nor there. What IS here, is how much this book owned me, because GOOD GAWD did it!

When he walks past, he grabs my hand, telling me softly against my cheek, “He will never love you like I do.”

If you’re thinking this is a typical love triangle, you couldn’t be more wrong. That blurb doesn’t even begin to do this book justice. It’s so much more than a woman who can’t have the man she wants so she settles for his brother. This is not a black and white story. It’s settled very firmly in the gray.

The rope he has tethered to me is unraveling, thread after fraying thread. I hear them snapping, faster and faster now. Feel the stinging bite of each one against my tender flesh as they break apart.

Maverick is not a heroine you’d think you like, but with every page you grow to understand her more and more. The incredibly spellbinding writing will pull you into the story so well that it won’t be long before you’re just as conflicted about your feelings as she is.

Maverick is a woman that’s loved two men her entire life; one man with the love of passion and the second with the love of friendship. But then the man she always thought she’d end up with breaks her heart by marrying her sister. Try as she might, she can’t burn away her love for him, even if she is now married to his brother and her lifelong best friend, Kael.

I want to kiss these fucking lips, Maverick. And not a kiss of a boy who has been friends with a girl for almost thirty years. But as a lover. I want to bite and suck and own and devour. Whenever I want. However I want.”

Have you ever read a romance where you didn’t know which man to root for? Where your feelings were so up and down you felt like you were in a never ending spiral? Where you spend the entire time glued to the pages, utterly incapable of tearing yourself away for even a mere second? Because I just did.
black-swan-affair-dgr-teaser-2Mesmerizing, maddening, heart rendering; this book owned me to the depths of my dark soul. I devoured every page, I screamed, I cried, I raged. I was enraptured.

That’s how much I love you. That’s how wound around the very fucking center of my soul you are. It’s the same place you’ll be until I close my eyes and take my last breath. You are rooted in here”- he pounds his chest- “in the bowels of me so far I will never be rid of you. No matter how much I’ve tried.”

If you don’t read love triangles; read this book.
If you want a book that will make you feel; read this book.
If you want a book that will make your heart bleed; read this book.
If you want a book that will have you thinking about it days after you’ve finished it; read this book.

1 Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, DGR Favorites, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: ,

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Thief of Hearts by @LHCosway

October 11, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

tohreviewtourThief of Hearts
Series: Hearts #5
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Author: L.H. Cosway
Release Date: October 4, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Seduce the teacher.
Meet the cousin.
Make a deal.
Steal the painting.

Andrea Anderson has no clue of the thoughts churning around in the dark and dangerous ex-con’s head as he enters her classroom. In fact, she’s momentarily lost for words. Not in her entire teaching career has she had a student who looked quite like Stu Cross.

A widow at just twenty-eight, love is something Andie hasn’t considered a part of her life for a very long time. However, when lingering touches turn to whispered words and hot, searching stares, she begins to wonder if maybe she should take a leap of faith.

But Stu is in her class for a reason, and it has nothing to do with love. He’s there to burrow his way into her life and repay a debt, otherwise his family will suffer. Andie is the first person to show him true kindness since he left prison, and though he doesn’t want to mislead her, he doesn’t have another choice.

Before long, Stu can’t tell whether or not he’s acting anymore, and his feelings for Andie could throw all of his carefully crafted plans into complete and utter disarray.

**Can be read as a stand alone.

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | SMASHWORDS | KOBO | B&N

 

toh5

Review-DGR5 stars

5 L-H-Cosway-I-LUV-YOU Stars!!!!!

à la Mode St. » fashion

People like you give people like me a soft place to fall. Otherwise we’d just be cold and hard.

à la Mode St. » fashionI haven’t read an L.H. Cosway book in waaaay too long. And I haven’t read all of her books. But I love every single one that I’ve read so far. What I love about L.H. Cosway is her ability to make me feel all the feels without telling me how to feel (Did you get that?). Her words and dialogue evoke such emotion and I get the feels from them. I usually don’t like student-teacher tropes but I went into this blind, and because I will read anything LH Cosway writes, I ended up loving it (duh!)! It’s not your typical student-teacher story.
à la Mode St. » fashion

I’d always been fascinated by stories like that, where words on a page could make you feel things as strongly as though the emotional trauma was happening in real life.

à la Mode St. » fashionStu & Andrea:
: Andrea teaches adult students. Stu recently got out of prison and is sentenced to attend the adult class. He is the typical bad boy, and I fell SO HARD for Stu. He’s got a dirty mouth. Cosway has a way with dirty words probably because she’s British and dirty words just sound so much more cool and natural in a British accent. Lol. Stu is tall, dark, wears sunglasses, and he smokes! Gah, I love a smoker! (only in books. Haha). Stu PURSUES Andrea…relentlessly, and I loved every second. And he can be sweet as pie! He’s pretty much my perfect man….
both physically and cerebrally.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”You’re just very, um, fit. I’m feeling a little self-conscious of all my jiggly bits.”

Stu grinned and reached for my hips. “I love all your jiggly bits.” Dipping his head down, he sucked one of my nipples into his mouth. “Especially these ones,” he continued, mouthing my breast.

à la Mode St. » fashionThere is insta-attraction, and these two are so
sexy awkward.
 Andrea immediately thinks Stu is the bees-knees. She’s the dorky teacher, and he’s the hot student, and there is nothing cliché about anything in this book. After learning that Stu has a way with numbers, she connects him with her father who is a math professor to get Stu some individual tutoring. Andrea is actually a widow (so sad!), so she has trouble letting go of this part of her life. I loved how she did and how Stu got her there! I can’t say too much about the plot because I don’t want to give away any spoilers, and there were a couple surprise twists in the story. Ugh, I wish I could tell you everything, so go read the book so my mouth doesn’t splurge out all the deets! Go!
à la Mode St. » fashion

”I’m sure my oversized grey slacks get you real hot and bothered, Stuart,” I deadpanned.

“I could take or leave the slacks,” he breathed, all gravelly. “But those lips and your big brown eyes, now those are what get me all jacked up.”

à la Mode St. » fashionAndrea’s all like…


And Stu’s all like…


And I’m all like…

I LOVED Andrea’s dedication to teaching and wanting to see her students succeed. It defined her character so well. Being a teacher myself, I definitely related to Andrea in that way. I loved that it was a continuing theme in the book…education. Even after Stu and Andrea started their thing, Andrea didn’t stop wanting Stu to continue his education. She has the ability to see students’ strengths even if they aren’t the typical types of intelligence. My nerdy teacher side was like “Yes!” through this whole theme in the book. I love that Cosway even HAS themes in her books. What romance author has themes these days?! LOL!

I love that this whole book is written in Andrea’s pov. So many books coming out are written in alternating pov’s, which I really like sometimes, but I LOVE Cosway’s writing style so much that she just doesn’t need to alternate. I loved the mystery of Stu. I love the thief heist of the story. It was just so much fun! This book is all kinds of hot and swoony and perfection, so yeah, go read it now!

About the Author

l-h-cosway-author-picL.H. Cosway lives in Dublin, Ireland. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books. She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories. L.H. is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

 FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE | PINTEREST

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Jennifer’s Review: Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh

October 9, 2016 by ·

caressed-by-ice-reviewCARESSED BY ICE
Series: Psy-Changeling #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Nalini Singh
Release Date: September 4, 2007add-to-goodreads-button-2

caressed-by-ice-psy-changeling-nalini-singh

The author of Shards of Hope and Shield of Winter presents a Psy/Changeling novel in which two people who know evil intimately must unlock the good within their icy hearts…

As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now a defector, his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins – cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna…

Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted – and had her mind violated – by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives…

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | B&NReview-DGR5 stars

This book is BEYOND. That’s it. Just beyond. It has to be one of my favorite paranormal books ever. Definitely my favorite in this series so far.

à la Mode St. » fashion

“His eyes fixed on hers, the gold flecks darkening to amber. “An assassin who looks after his own skin? That’s exactly what I am, Brenna. I would rather die than harm you, but anyone else? I could kill them without blinking. It’s what I was born to do.”

à la Mode St. » fashionJUDD.
JUDD.
JUDD.

I am puddle on the floor because this man has melted all of my icicles. And I want to lick his giant icicle. Ok, I’m done.

My Judd:

Steaming hot:

My Brenna:


I LOVE assholes. And Judd was so cold to Brenna in the beginning that I ate him up. At the same time, he is unlike any hero I’ve ever read because he does not know or realize that he is being an ice man. As a Psy, he cannot FEEL anything. Not only is he a Psy, but he is an Arrow, which is the most lethal Psy assassin. They are so rare that they are the best kept secret among the Psy. He was trained to reject all pain and emotion, so his brain refuses to feel anything. I enjoyed the journey that Judd went through in order to let himself FEEL.

Brenna was kidnapped in the first book of this series. I was hoping that she was going to get her own book, and I am so happy that she did. Judd is her perfect other half. Because she was kidnapped and tortured by a Psy, she has lingering issues, and she feels a connection with Judd and only he can understand what she went through.
à la Mode St. » fashion

Brenna’s eyes widened. Raising a hand, she brushed his hair gently off his forehead.
“Why do I keep telling you things I swore I’d take to my grave?”

The contact shot electricity through his nerves. “Because you know I’ll always be your shield against the nightmares.”

à la Mode St. » fashionSingh is the queen of sexual tension. In books by other authors, I’ll be rolling my eyes if the couple hasn’t had sexy by the 50% mark, but with Singh, I don’t even care. I feel the sexual tension so much in her books that I don’t even think about the sex, and I’m pleasantly surprised when they get finally get their groove on.
à la Mode St. » fashion

“Aren‘t you going to get up?”

He put a hand on the curve of her hip, a possessive gesture that had already become
familiar.

“No. Let‘s have more sex.”

20606701à la Mode St. » fashionWith this book, Singh switched everything up. She threw a curve ball, and it worked so hard! In the first two books, the heroine was the Psy and the hero was the changeling, but this is the first book in the series where the hero was the Psy and the heroine was the changeling. I NEED more Psy men in my life because Judd was my type of man!

I’ve never read anything like this book. It is…..PHENOMENAL.

THE PSY/CHANGELING SERIES

SLAVE TO SENSATION | VISIONS OF HEAT | CARESSED BY ICE |
MINE TO POSSESS | HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE | BRANDED BY FIRE | BLAZE OF MEMORY | BONDS OF JUSTICE | PLAY OF PASSION |
KISS OF SNOW | TANGLE OF NEED | HEART OF OBSIDIAN |
SHIELD OF WINTER | SHARDS OF HOPE | ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR

· Filed Under: All Reviews, DGR Favorites, PNR · Tagged With: , , ,

Jennifer’s Review: Too Hot To Handle by @mstessabailey

October 8, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

too-hot-to-handle-reviewTOO HOT TO HANDLE
Series: Romancing the Clarksons #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: May 17, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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When rescue looks like a whole lot of trouble…

The road trip was definitely a bad idea. Having already flambéed her culinary career beyond recognition, Rita Clarkson is now stranded in God-Knows-Where, New Mexico, with a busted-ass car and her three temperamental siblings, who she hasn’t seen in years. When rescue shows up—six-feet-plus of hot, charming sex on a motorcycle—Rita’s pretty certain she’s gone from the frying pan right into the fire . . .

Jasper Ellis has a bad boy reputation in this town, and he loathes it. The moment he sees Rita, though, Jasper knows he’s about to be sorely tempted. There’s something real between them. Something raw. And Jasper has only a few days to show Rita that he isn’t just for tonight—he’s forever.

 

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS

Review4.5 stars

4.25 Tessa-has-a-waaaay-about-her Stars!!!!!

I don’t know what it is….but I know that I can’t live without her.

Her men are so classic, almost iconic, and I can’t help but love them. Her brain is classically dirty. She is able to capture these moments and write them so well that I feel like I’m right there.
à la Mode St. » fashion

A man who woke up, stretched his flexing biceps over his head, scrubbed a hand down his abs, and grinned before getting up to drink coffee naked in his kitchen. Because why spend one unnecessary moment dressed? And speaking of clothes, the warmth coming off his tucked-in flannel shirt rivaled the sun. She would bet anything that if she sniffed the material curing around his shoulder it would remind her of snuggling into pajamas fresh from the dryer.

à la Mode St. » fashionAs I was reading this book, I finally figured out one of the many reasons why I love her writing so much. She is an artist at writing similes and metaphors. They are always the most eloquent or poetic, but they make me understand EXACTLY what that character is thinking or feeling. Most of the time, I smile and highlight them, and that’s why I love her books so much….because of all the smiling. I truly believe that Tessa Bailey is underestimated because she is a powerful writer, so I don’t underestimate her at all. She can write anything, and I’ll read it. She emotes, but it’s not always elegant. It’s raw and blue-collar and makes me FEEL ALL THE FEELS!!! Tessa, I would read your grocery lists.
à la Mode St. » fashion

Promises dug like tiny tractors in his gut, excavating vital components of what impulse directed him to say, leaving messes behind.

à la Mode St. » fashion20703796The 4 Clarkson siblings are on a road trip to fulfill their mother’s wish for them. They are not close siblings so there is automatically tension between them. When the car breaks down, of course Jasper is riding by on his sexy motorcycle. Tess is the queen of insta-lust, alpha-male, dirty-talker who wants his woman.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”Play offense,” he demanded in her ear. “Push down into it. Fuck yourself up against it. I’ll help you get where you need to go, beautiful. You answered the door begging for something bad from me. So that’s what I’m giving you. You and this sweet, neglected pussy. Now fuck your vibrator.”

à la Mode St. » fashionMy Jasper: (without the cig)

Jasper Ellis was a twenty-ounce hanger steak with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. 

:

My Rita:

:
Jasper is the owner of the Liquor Hole (get it!), the local bar. He is a reformed playboy trying to be good and responsible now, but his reputation precedes him. As he starts to pursue Rita, he can’t escape the playboy stigma.

Rita is a little black sheep of the family. She is a chef who tried to follow in her mother’s footsteps, but felt like she was never able to measure up. I loved watching her transform her strength and how Jasper helped her get there. Jasper and Rita think they only have a day together until the car is fixed. Well, due to some unexpected events each day (I love all of this), they end up getting a few more days together, enough time for the 4 siblings to help Jasper open his new restaurant.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”….stop stealing my breath when I’m trying to catch it.”
“No.” He pressed their foreheads together. “I don’t want you to catch it. I want it to stay lost and I want to be the man who steals it. All day, every day. Forever. Stay with me right here.”

à la Mode St. » fashion20703797I fell in love….with this whole family! I feel like I already have a clear picture of who each sibling is, but I know Tessa is going to pull out so much more in each book. I cannot wait to learn more about every single one of them. If you like series that involve brothers and sisters and FEELS, then you will love this book. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is different than Tessa’s other series, and I can’t wait to jump into Aaron’s book.

One word….BELMONT. And Sage! Gah! Of course, Tessa is saving his book for last! But I know I will enjoy the journey.

ROMANCING THE CLARKSONS SERIES

TOO HOT TO HANDLE | TOO WILD TO TAME |
TOO HARD TO FORGET (releasing 4/27/17)

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Review: Down Shift by @KBrombergDriven

October 6, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

review-down-shift-by-k-brombergDOWN SHIFT
Series: Driven #8
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: K. Bromberg
Release Date: October 4, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

down-shift-by-k-bromberg

The New York Times bestselling Driven series continues with a standalone story about finding love where you least expect it…
 
Behind the wheel, racing champion Zander Donavan is at the top of his game. But after too much excess in his personal life, he’s forced to step away. He needs to accomplish something all on his own—outside of his famous father’s shadow.

Getty Caster is running away from the abuse that clouds her past. She thinks she’s found the perfect escape—until she discovers a stranger in the beachside cottage she’d been promised. He’s undeniably sexy, but she’s there to heal. Alone.

Before long though, fighting with each other turns into fighting their attraction. And giving into desire sets off a chain reaction that has their pasts colliding. With an unexpected love on the line, can they overcome the fallout to build a future?

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR5 starsdown-shift-dgr-teaser

“Even if you gave me a hundred reasons why we shouldn’t be together, Getty, I’d still look for the one reason to fight like hell for you. Remember that.”

See that pile of goo right there?
No! Not there! That’s the melted ice cream I used to eat my feelings. I’m talking about the other pile. Yes, yes, that one right there. That would be me. Melted into an gooey pile of swoon filled goo. All at the hands of a man with a moody disposition but a heart of gold named Zander and the incredible talent that is K. Bromberg. Goo I tells ya!

His love roared loader than my demons.

A recent revelation from his past has unraveled Zander Donovan’s world. He’s spinning out of control, angry and bitter, and lashing out at those that love him most. When he makes one stupid mistake too much, he’s forced to take a step back from the racing world and his family, finding peace in quiet seclusion.

Everyone’s churning ocean is fueled by a different type of storm.”
“What’s your storm?”
“My storm?” he chuckles, self-deprecation in his tone and a look in his eyes he doesn’t give me a chance to read. “I don’t think it’s ever really stopped churning, but there’s definitely been a few surprise white squalls thrown in.”

Getty is looking for a fresh start. Running from a past of her own, her scars are of the hidden variety. A woman broken doesn’t mean a woman that can’t heal, and she’s looking to heal the woman she wants to be. Having a sexy stranger crash her own quiet seclusion isn’t what she expects, nor the undeniable chemistry that brews between them from the very first sarcastic barb they exchange.

What starts as an unwilling cohabitation soon turns into friendship and begins to turn into something much deeper.

I know you’re stubborn as hell and gorgeous as fuck. And that your kiss tastes like an aged whiskey: something I want to sip slowly, feel on my lips, savor on my tongue, and take my time with before I get drunk on it.”

Getty is not the heroine I typically enjoy. She’s a lot damaged and a bit withdrawn, but she’s also endearingly sweet and caring in spite of her past. She’s not naive or a wallflower, but she’s not a warrior either. She’s someone that’s incredibly relatable. She’s a woman with a past and hidden hurts, but she doesn’t chose to dwell on that. She wants to heal, she wants to move on.

Zander is fighting a different demon from his past, but it’s no less darker than Getty’s. Together, they just…made sense. They were the perfect halves of a whole. K. Bromberg did an incredible job painting a story of two broken souls finding a healing touch in one another. They weren’t emotional crutches for the other. They were complete opposites, but together they just made sense. I adored these two. I loved their banter, I loved their push and pull, and I couldn’t get enough of their chemistry.

And their chemistry? Off the walls hot!

Time passes in pure sensations. The bite of his fingers into my thighs. The mist of sweat on my skin. The groan he emits as he slowly comes undone. The tingle of ecstasy throughout my body.

Goo I tells ya!

The author manages to bring everything in a full circle. The writing was spellbinding and beautiful, the story was emotional and gripping, and the romance was heart wrenchingly good. If you’re looking for a book that packs just as much feeling as it does steam, THIS is the book that needs to be on your list! It was pure perfection and I loved every page of it!

DRIVEN SERIES

DRIVEN | FUELED | CRASHED | RACED | ACED | SLOW BURN |
SWEET ACHE | HARD BEAT | DOWN SHIFT

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Jennifer’s Review: His by Brenda Rothert

October 5, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

review-his-brenda-rothertHIS
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Brenda Rothert
Release Date: June 28. 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

his_amazon

Quinn
I’d say I’m down on my luck, but that’s an understatement. I’m flat on my ass. Homeless, hungry and in hiding with my little sister at the age of twenty-one, I’ve never been so desperate. I’ve hit rock bottom when I get an offer I can’t refuse. Sell my body to save my sister? There’s nothing I won’t do to keep her safe. I make the rules and I’m not afraid to defend myself if this rich guy crosses the line. But once I see beneath his cold, calculating façade, the lines aren’t so clear anymore.

Andrew
She’s an intoxicating mix of tough and vulnerable I’ve never known before. This homeless woman who fits right into my upper-class world is running from someone powerful, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. But Quinn isn’t meant to be controlled, so I’m forced to choose between owning her and loving her. I’ve finally met my match, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make her truly mine.

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR3.5 stars

Beginning – 5 Strong Stars!
Middle – 4 Still-Good Stars!
Ending – 3 Aw-man-but-I-still-liked-it Stars!

This book has a kick-ass, awesome beginning. Quinn and her sister are homeless. They are running from a secret, so they have to stay low. I really enjoyed how the author doesn’t give all of the secrets away so it made me want to keep reading. Quinn needs money because her sister is sick. She is given an offer that she can’t refuse, but I loved that she was on her guard even at the beginning and didn’t just give into the offer, but knew she would have to do what needed to be done to save her sister. I enjoyed the relationship between Quinn and Andrew. It was unexpected and sweet and sexy how they got to know each other.

My Andrew:

.:

My Quinn:

.:
I enjoyed the premise of this book. The fact that I read the whole thing says a lot because I am usually a quitter if I am not enjoying a book. There were definitely some cheesy lines where I kinda rolled my eyes. Overall, I liked the characters, but I thought they could use some polishing. Quinn came across as this strong homeless girl who doesn’t put up with shit, and I loved her in the beginning. I think the author wanted her to also show her vulnerable side, which is great, but there was a disconnect between Quinn’s strength and her vulnerability. They just didn’t seem like the same person.

The ending felt rushed. The secret reveal of Andrew’s job is a little too easy. The overall ending was a little anti-climactic. I wanted it to be more badass.

20741498

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Review: The Trouble With Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis

October 4, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

the-trouble-with-mistletoe-reviewTHE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE
Series: Heartbreaker Bay #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release Date: September 27, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

 

the-trouble-with-mistetoe

If she has her way …

Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her …

He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.

Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him …

Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice …

Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish—and let the mistletoe do its work …

Buy LinksAMAZON | B&N | iBOOKSReview-DGR4 starsthe-trouble-with-mistletoe-dgr-teaser

The


It’s just that you’re always so . . .”
“What?”
“Everything.”

Le swoon. *Happy sigh*

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Jill Shalvis books are my happy place. Her stories never fail to give me the warm and fuzzies and a huge case of the happy feels. They’re romantic, swoony, sweet, sexy, and yet never cheesy. They’re the perfect feel good romance with none of the craziness and yet they’ll keep me reading well into the night with a happy smile on my face. I just love them.

Ever since the preview of Willa’s book in Sweet Little Lies I’ve been eagerly anticipating the full story of what happened with her and Keane. Because let’s be real here, a high school crush that broke her heart shows up years later with a disgruntled pussy on her doorstop? You bet I want to read it!

Willa and Keane were pure magic together. Willa grew up hard but has a hard of gold. She had amazing friends, she has a job she loves taking care of animals that love her just as much back. But what Willa doesn’t believe in is love…at least not for herself. So when her high school crush shows up on her doorstep with a cat he’s stuck taking care of for his aunt and no memory of her, suffice it to say she’s not exactly thrilled to see him or help him out. What ensues is a whole lot of Jill Shalvis magic.

The sparks between Keane and Willa are instant, but man do I appreciate the slow burn. Keane is a bit damaged himself, but I adored how sweet he was with Willa at times. When the man sets to wooing, he certainly woos. And Willa may put up a good front at first, but it’s not long before he begins tearing down her walls.

I love the camaraderie of all the friends and the way they grumpily took Keane into their fold. Well, the men anyway. The women were just entertaining. I love the friendships in this series almost as much as I love the romance. It’s low on the angst but with plenty of feeling. It’s high on the swoons but with just enough sexy. It’s the perfect holiday romance to curl up with by the fireplace and get the perfect case of the happy feels.

If you’re looking for a light, feel good sort of romance, this series is an absolute must read.

HEARTBREAKER BAY Series

Sweet Little Lies (Heartbreaker Bay, #1)
The Trouble with Mistletoe (Heartbreaker Bay, #2)
Accidentally on Purpose (Heartbreaker Bay, #3) 

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: ,

Review: Unsuitable by Samantha Towle

September 30, 2016 by ·

unsuitable-review-dirty-girl-romanceUNSUITABLE
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Suspense
Author: Samantha Towle
Release Date: October 1, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

unsuitable-683x1024

From New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Towle, comes a new sexy, romantic suspense standalone novel…

Daisy Smith has spent eighteen months of her life paying for a crime she didn’t commit. Now out of prison, she has only one focus—to get back custody of her younger brother, Jesse, who is deep in the foster care system. Desperate to rebuild her life and show the system that she is responsible enough to care for Jesse, she takes on the only job available to her—working as a maid at the Matis Estate.

On day one of her new job, Daisy meets Kastor Matis, the only son of the owners and her new boss. An enigmatic, handsome Greek god of a man, Kas is closed off, cold, and…well, kind of a bastard.

The more time Daisy spends around Kas, she starts to see there might be more to him than just his cold, bastard ways. He may actually have a heart beating in that frozen chest of his.

But Kas has secrets, too. Secrets that he’s determined to keep.

Secrets make Daisy curious.

And you know what curiosity can do…

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Review-DGR4 starsunsuitable-dgr

Fuck, baby,” he groans before taking my mouth again. He kisses me with more intensity, bordering on crazy. And I match him stroke for stroke. We’re pulling on each other, both taking what we need.

What. The. Heck. Was. That?!!!!

I had NO idea Samantha Towle had something like this in her. This book was…something else entirely. It was nothing that I expected and everything I wanted. (See what I did there?) You know that moment when you start reading a book and you’re hooked from just the first few pages? So you know, you just know you got something different and exciting on your hands. Something that will not only hook you but will keep you riveted to the pages until the end? Yeah. Unsuitable was that book for me. I was hooked, riveted, and enthralled.

Kas was simply one of the most complex and magnetic heroes I’ve read in a long damn while. He was hypnotizing in his intensity. And let me tell you, he was INTENSE.

This is so much more than just a romance with an alphahole hero and a heroine that’s down in the dumps and crawling her way back. It was multi-layered, cleverly and deeply developed, and with a sexual tension so intense that it practically crackles the pages with it.

Daisy is a heroine that’s impossible not to like. This is a woman that has been in hell; wrongly imprisoned, betrayed by those she trusted, she’s lost everything and now has to rebuild everything having had almost nothing to start with. Yet she’s got sass to her, she’s funny and endearing and while she may be jaded in some things, she’s not eternally pessimistic. She wants to experience the good even while not believing it will happen for her.

The chemistry between her and Kas is instant. And let me tell you, you’ll want to hate Kas. This is a man that’s a downright a-hole to Daisy. Blatantly so. But there’s always something that’s so clearly brewing beneath the surface with him that you just know that there has to be a good reason for his behavior and it isn’t just that he’s an ass.

The complexity of this story blew me away. The complexity of these characters blew me away. Sure there was some cheese in some parts, and while I could have done without it in parts, it worked for me, too. It’s no secret that I love a good alphahole, and Kas was definitely that. But he was so SO much more too.

What I feel for you is debilitating and terrifying and exhilarating…and the best thing to ever happen to me. You are the best thing to ever happen to me. And, if you only ever believe one thing I’ve told you, then believe this; if I could love someone, then it would be you, Daisy. A million times over, it would be you.”

It was a gripping romance, a story of second chances and redemption and healing. It was a fluid combination of light and dark, filled with plenty of depth. Samantha Towle seriously hit it out of the park with Unsuitable.

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: ,

Review: The Goal by Elle Kennedy

September 29, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

the-goal-reviewTHE GOAL
Series: Off-Campus #4
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Elle Kennedy
Release Date: September 26, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

thegoal-ibooks

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR3.5 stars

I hate to tell you this, Sabrina. But you’ve made a big mistake.”
“What? Why?”
His fingers draw my thong tight, the fabric cutting into my swollen lips.
“Because I’m going to ruin you for all future guys. I apologize in advance.”

Time out. Did anyone else just have a pervy hot flash here? No? Seriously? You’re a bunch of lying liars, is what you are. You totally did. Admit it. That line right there just totally revved your engines.

It’s always the quiet ones, isn’t it? Well if I had known the mouth that beard of Tucker’s was hiding all this time, I probably would have been stalking Elle Kennedy down on a daily basis and waving my fist menacingly at her to write his story sooner. What? I like pervy bearded heroes, and don’t you judge me either! Those BILFs get things done, I tells ya. But I digress.

Tucker has always been the calm, quiet, rational and unassuming one of the hockey bunch. Compared to the likes of Dean and Garrett, he always kinda shied away in their spotlight…or so it seemed. BOY was I wrong. Because when this man has a target he goes after, he spares no apology and isn’t afraid to play dirty. But Tucker is also incredibly sweet, humble, and beyond patient and understanding. All those things make him absolutely perfect! And dirty…so very dirty

Oh sweet baby Jesus. Sex with Tucker is dirtier and hotter than I thought it would be. He doesn’t look like he’d be this way, but isn’t it always the quiet ones?

The Goal runs parallel to the events in The Score, so if you haven’t read that book yet, I highly recommend reading it prior to this or some details may be lost on you. Admittedly, I hated Sabrina in the previous books. She was extremely waspish and off putting, to put it frankly. Luckily having her background and really getting down to the truth of why she is the way she is helped connect more with her character. That’s not to say she’s my favorite heroine of the series, but I certainly understood and liked her more in this book than the previous ones.

She’s not certain of me yet. I need to bide my time, but as long as I’m in the game, I’m not worried about the outcome.

Sabrina is driven and highly independent. She doesn’t want or need a man, unless it’s for one night of tension relief. But that all changes when the man is Tucker, because Tucker wants more than a few orgasms from her, and he’s not hesitant to show her what she’s missing. Did I mention I adored Tucker?

So why the lower rating? Weeeelll….I actually wasn’t a fan of a particular trope used in this book. The hows of it seemed a little eye raising in the believability department, and the back and forths of it drove me a little bonkers. There were parts that I wanted to hug Sabrina, and others where I wanted to beat her with the nearest blunt object…or a really really big stick. But I digress once more.

Was The Goal my favorite in the series? Probably not. Did I enjoy it? Absolutely. Ultimately it was an entertaining read that kept me invested in the story and their characters and especially the romance. Tucker definitely is a large part as to why, but Sabrina did grow on me at the end as well.

Fans of this series will certainly enjoy this newest installment. And if you’ve been curious about the silent bearded one, you surely won’t be disappointed.

THE OFF-CAMPUS SERIES

THE DEAL | THE MISTAKE | THE SCORE  |  THE GOAL

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Review: Too Wild To Tame by Tessa Bailey

September 28, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

too-wild-to-tame-reviewTOO WILD TO TAME
Series: Romancing the Clarksons #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: September 6, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

toowildtotame

Sometimes you just can’t resist playing with fire . . . 

By day, Aaron Clarkson suits up, shakes hands, and acts the perfect gentleman. But at night, behind bedroom doors, the tie comes off and the real Aaron comes out to play. Mixing business with pleasure got him fired, so Aaron knows that if he wants to work for the country’s most powerful senator, he’ll have to keep his eye on the prize. That’s easier said than done when he meets the senator’s daughter, who’s wild, gorgeous, and 100 percent trouble.

Grace Pendleton is the black sheep of her conservative family. Yet while Aaron’s presence reminds her of a past she’d rather forget, something in his eyes keeps drawing her in. Maybe it’s the way his voice turns her molten. Or maybe it’s because deep down inside, the ultra-smooth, polished Aaron Clarkson might be more than even Grace can handle . . .

 

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS

Review3.5 stars

She was forcing him to consider light and shadows, when he’d only ever dealt in black and white. And she was the light. Shining bright enough to flay him.

When I read Too Hot to Handle, Aaron was a character that intrigued me right away. Tessa Bailey gives the reader just enough to catch their curiosity but then like the sadist that she surely is, she makes you wait until that particular Clrackson’s book to appease it. Aaron is in his own personal hell; in a car with his siblings on the trek to NY with a brother that would sooner glare at him than talk to him and the regrets of what sent him away in the first place.

Aaron is advisor to the politicians and loves his job, but a mistake he made cost him everything. Now his only chance to resurrect his career, is to get on the good side of a senator that’s on the fast trek to presidency. But then he meets the woman that throws a wrench into all his plans and good intentions

Getting close to another person was suicide, as far as he was concerned. People eventually walked away, although he wasn’t sure if that was a universal rule, or one that pertained only to him. His father had replaced Belmont as the male rock in his life, built him up, and then he’d gone and fucked off, too, hadn’t he? Left him bitter and self-sufficient. He was grateful for seeing human nature for what it was, deep down. The women he took to bed didn’t seem to mind, either.

Aaron is broody and grumpy, but when that man lets his mouth loose? Holy explosive ovaries! Tessa knows how to write a hell of a dirty talker and she definitely doesn’t disappoint with Aaron Clarkson.

This book had all the things I felt lacking in the first book; angst, sexual tension, and that sweet sweet burn of a sexual tension that burns to scorching levels. So why not rate higher? Well, my picky self was still missing a certain connection with the story. I just wasn’t invested enough in the characters and the romance to be yearning to turn the pages. Don’t get me wrong, it was entertaining and I definitely enjoyed it for the most part. But will it be something I come back to? Probably not. I also loved Grace’s story, but something about her as a character just didn’t connect me with her.

I loved getting a glimpse into the other two Clarkson siblings, and I’m practically salivating for Sage and her brooding Clarkson brother to get together already but I’m thinking Tessa is saving that bad boy for last.

If you’re looking for a sexy contemporary romance with a whole lot of dirty talk and a brooding but completely endearing hero, definitely give this book a shot.

ROMANCING THE CLARKSONS SERIES

TOO HOT TO HANDLE | TOO WILD TO TAME |
TOO HARD TO FORGET (releasing 4/27/17)

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Dirty Talkers · Tagged With: ,
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